Sydney Pais

I got that, but there is the difference in approach. I'm using samples (whether "borrowed" or just played myself) to STRUCTURE the song. The rough version. That I will use as a blueprint to record live guitars, bass, drums and occasionally keyboards. Preferrable all parts in one take, so no robotic stuff. And eventually the vocals. So it's (definitely) not the final product, it's a setup. Maybe that's where the confusion is.

No, it just tells me what the MAIN key is in this Section. I could have named it "Staccato E-D-E-D-D-E" if I would strictly follow the real (and quickly changing) chord sequence. That name would be a violation of clever use, I guess.... There are multiple, alternating, chords in it, and two measures 4/4. In your example it seems there is no extended solo section necessary, so it doesn't apply. That's why I'd mentioned the example of CCR's "I heard it through the grapevine". John Fogerty's extended solo is played in D-G a million times as a turnaround. This is also how my verses (3x4 measures) is built, while my chorus (2x2 measures, 1x3 measures overflow) is the same yet in B. Also a transposed section in A and even C for additional guitar changes in the solo's. It's not a masterpiece or rocket science and it will never hit the charts, by all means (), but it's metal as I like it.

Addition: As a former (data) programmer working in a modular build-up is so much more efficient than just writing out everything unprepared. From that perspective the point is that I use smaller sections (e.g. 2 or 4 bars) for verse/chorus, and I want a solo based on this x12. One change in the original makes me have another change copied 11 times. The more I extend the original Version to multiple, the more I can throw away and do over again, if I change my mind. I find it hard to believe (or is it accept?) that a great product like Cakewalk has not included this controlled loop option in the Sections. It seems to me programming wise hardly different from the loop in Transport. Although there you can't set a certain number either, but that makes sense for its purpose. --- Or if a NEW Arrangement, created from e.g. 12x etc., could be used in the current one you're working on, could be "called" and entered as a module. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, you're stuck with the current Arrangement and the result is a sheer endless list of Sections running of the screen - without overview. E.g. Arr 2 : 'Extended Solo' (built up of Sections 'Verse/Solo' x12 - 'Chorus' x2 - 'Verse/Solo' x4 ) Arr 1: 'Intro' - 'Verse 1' - 'Chorus' - (call) 'Extended Solo' or (call) 'Arr 2' - 'Verse 1' etc.

That would mean that I need to copy the same Section that I use for vocals, create a new one copied 11 times. One change, e.g. a 7th i.o. a 6th in the chord means 12 extra changes i.o. 1. No, I really prefer the suggested upgrade.

Hi Mark. Thank you for your reply. I can appreciate the UI issue. It indeed leaves little room. On the other hand, a pop-up might work. If I see how this program was built, I feel this could not be a very hard nut to crack (as that even English?...). "...after all, you can easily duplicate the section as many times as you want." True in my example of only 4-in-a-row, but with extensive solo's it's a different thing. Now I'm in no way a composer like the great John Fogerty, but imaging "I heard it through the grapevine" first being constructed in the Cakewalk Arranger with a planned solo of about 7 minutes (with quite some chord changes in a turnaround). And then having to make a change somewhere in between, scrolling and counting lines... I hope Next or Sonar will make this possible, for Bandlab it might be too late.

Thank you for your remarks, Mark, but I don't come with this suggestion as a Folk song musician. I'm into Rock and Metal where extensive solos over the same pattern are more kinda rule than exception. All I'm asking is a (controlled) Loop function per Section.

I'm using the Arranger/Arrangements for composing and structuring new songs. I've created all kind of "pieces" (Sections through Markers) and by itself it works fine through the Arrangement. But I'm quite annoyed by two things, and hopefully they will be addressed in the next version (CbB, Next and or Sonar). 1. Adding an editable number which indicates how many times you want a certain Section to be played (instead of duplicating as many times). The result now is having a huge (and sometimes unfathomable) list of the same Sections. In this example 4x 'E (Running)' is not such a big deal, but 12 times (or is it 11 or 13?) the same Section is. Especially with more complex or extended pieces (like long, repetitive solo's / instrumentals) this is now unworkable. 2. As playing the Arrangement, the list also doesn't scroll automatically as the playing moment reaches the bottom of what is visible. It disappears into the void, and the playing can't be monitored anymore without using the scroll bar, which is a distraction from the workflow. Maybe the Now moment should be centered (Preferences?). I don't really consider this one an upgrade, rather fixing a bug. Thank you for your consideration. Warm greetings from Amsterdam.